Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Cranley: Streetcar funding shortage could mean shortened schedule

He expresses optimism about getting the rest of it lined up, but emphasized again Wednesday he draws a line in the sand about protecting police, fire and basic service budget dollars.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 7:16 PM EDT Sep 3, 2014

Cranley: Streetcar funding shortage could mean shortened schedule

He expresses optimism about getting the rest of it lined up, but emphasized again Wednesday he draws a line in the sand about protecting police, fire and basic service budget dollars.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 7:16 PM EDT Sep 3, 2014

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT HAMRICK,WLWT NEWS 5.AT 6:00 PONY UP OR STREETCARRIDESCOULD SCALE DOWN.THAT IS A WARNING ANYWAY TONIGHTFROM THE CITY'S TOP LEADER.THE MAYOR SAYS THAT HE BELIEVESTHERE WILL BE A FUNDING PLAN FORTHEPROJECT.JOHN LONDON HAS MORE ON THEMAYOR'S PLAN TODAY.THE MAYOR IS MEETING WITH KEYSTREETCAR SUPPORTERS TONIGHT.HE EXPECTS A FUNDING FORMULATHAT IS IN HIS WORDS REASONABLEAND THAT EVERYBODY CAN GETBEHIND.TWO YEARS FROM THE ALL ABOARDWE ASKED THEMAYOR WHO WARNED ITTO BE AN UNAFFORDABLEEXTRAVAGANCE WHAT OUTCOME HEDESIRES.OF COURSE I WANT IT TOSUCCEED.WITH A HUNDRED MILLION INCAPITALALONE ALREADY INVESTEDIN THE PROJECT THE GAP INOPERATING MONEY IS GETTING UNDERA LOT OF SKINS, SOMUCH SO THATTHE SPECTOR OF SCALING BACK ISBEING FLOATED.IF WE RUN THESTREETCAR 75TIMES A DAY VERSUS A HUNDRED ITWILL STILL BE RUNNING.LEFT UNSAID IS THATTHESYSTEM WOULD WORK AGAINST ITSELFBY REDUCING RIDE TIMES AND FORGOINGFARE,.I THINK WE WOULD BE SORELYMISUSING A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLICINVESTMENT.THE VICE MAYORSAYS THE SKYIS NOT FALLING.HE POINTS TO GE'S REFERENCE TOTHE STREETCAR AS A FACTOR IN ITSDECISIONTO LOCATE AT THE BANKSAS AN INDICATOR OF ADDITIONALTAX REVENUES TO COME.WAY, WAY TOO SOON TO BETALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OFCUTTING BACK HOURS OFOPERATION.LAST WINTER SAVEDTHESTREETCAR MOVEMENT SEEMED OPENTO SUGGESTIONS OF A SPECIALIMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.I THINK THE ENTHUSIASM WASIRRATIONAL.SOME SOUND LIKE LONGTIMESTREETCAR SKEPTICS.I'D BE REAL MAD IF I'M TAXEDANDDOWNTOWN BIG OFFICEBUILDINGS ARE NOT TAXED.THERE IS TALK OF RAISINGREVENUE BY PARKINGPERMIT FEESTHROUGHOUT OVER-THE-RHINE.A STREETCAR CHAMPION SAYS WESHOULD NOT HAVE BOTH AN INCREASEIN PARKING RATES AND TAX.YOU CAN READ HISENTIRE COMMENTSON WLWT.COM.SAYING IT'S TIME FOR ADDITIONALPRIVATE SUPPORTTO SURFACE.HE HAS TO GET THIS UNDERCONTROL.A COUNCILMAN'S FROM US12R5EUGS ISRIDING.AS TRACKS MOVE TOWARDS THECENTER CITY THE MAYOR SAYS THEFUNDING GAP IS 20TO 25%.WHERE I'M DRAWING A LINE INTHE SAND IS IF WE ARE NOT GOINGTO CUT POLICE, FIREAND BASICSERVICES TO FUND THE OPERATIONOF THE STREETCAR.A SPECIAL IMPROVEMENTDISTRICT DOESN'THAPPENOVERNIGHT.IT WOULD TAKE PETITIONS AND ANAFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY OTR PROPERTYOWNERS.THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTSAYS DOWNTOWN NEEDS TO BEINCLUDED,NEEDS TO CHIP IN ITSFAIR SHARE.THANK YOU FOR THAT LIVEREPORT.BY MOSTCALCULATIONS THE FUNDING

Cranley: Streetcar funding shortage could mean shortened schedule

He expresses optimism about getting the rest of it lined up, but emphasized again Wednesday he draws a line in the sand about protecting police, fire and basic service budget dollars.